The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

This military thriller, which begins in 2032, concerns “Gent” Gentilhomme, a mercenary whose honor and bravery are severely tested.

America contracts its overseas combat to Force Insertion, the “military-contracting superfirm” run by James Salter, an ex-General who has the love and loyalty of men like Gent. A conventional military still operates America’s aircraft, drones and satellites, but “the dirt belongs to the mercs.” At issue—aside from oil—are the mutual respect and growing conflict between Salter and Gent as their diverging values become evident. Is there an “intersection of Necessity and Free Will,” as Salter believes? Is there a line a mercenary cannot cross, as Gent believes? Can America’s democracy continue to exist without gasoline costing $40 per gallon? These are fundamental questions in this dystopian thriller. Though a mercenary, Gent is a loyal American who wants to do right by his country. Powerful interests take exception to his actions, so he faces towering and mortal odds. Meanwhile, the men are tough and the women, including Gent’s journalist wife, are sexy and tough. She has her own agenda, which is to write a story about Force Insertion with or without Gent’s help. It’s a recipe for marital strain. Pressfield’s impressive research shows throughout this novel, whether in describing weapons systems and military transports or in placing the reader inside Dubai’s 2,800-foot-tall Burj Khalifa. References to consolidated news firms such as Trump/CNN convey a sense of the not-too-distant future.

A book that paints an all-too-plausible future in which America outsources its dirtiest jobs. Let’s hope Pressfield’s research tools didn’t include a crystal ball.

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